Read the first sentence of the text: there never was a time when the world was without fire, but there was a time when men did not know how to kindle fire; and after they learned how to kindle one, it was a long, long time before they learned how to kindle one easily. what is the main purpose of this sentence in the essay? to describe the misery of early human existence to explain how early fires were started to suggest humans have an easier life than we once did to support the idea that matches really changed human life

The answer is indeed letter D) To support the idea that matches really changed human life.

Explanation:

The excerpt given in the question was taken from the book "Stories of Useful Inventions" by S. E. Forman, more specifically from the very first chapter, called "The Match". We can find it in the second paragraph:

There never was a time when the world was without fire, but there was a time when men did not know how to kindle fire; and after they learned how to kindle one, it was a long, long time before they learned how to kindle one easily. In these days we can kindle a fire without any trouble, because we can easily get a match; but we must remember that the match is one of the most wonderful things in the world, and that it took men thousands of years to learn how to make one. Let us learn the history of this familiar little object, the match.

As we can tell, the author's intention is to show readers that the invention of the match changed our reality. Fire is a necessity; it has always been. But before we had this simple and easy way to start it by using a match, we had to count on nature to kindle it for us. According to the author, ashes from a volcano or a lightning striking a tree could very well start a fire, but humans would have to carry that fire back home and try their best not the let it extinguish. How much easier it is nowadays to do it with practically no effort, all thanks to the match!

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